Tesla introduced that it could lastly launch wait queues at Superchargers, a characteristic lengthy requested by Tesla house owners after a battle broke out at a station between house owners arguing about who’s subsequent to cost.
For years, Tesla house owners have been asking the automaker to implement a system to queue at Supercharger stations when they’re full.
It doesn’t occur usually — the truth is, we now study that it occurs about 1% of the time — however when it does, it may be problematic.
When a Supercharger station is full, and extra Tesla drivers arrive, they often attempt to kind a bodily queue on the station. Nevertheless, the parking zone can typically be restricted, resulting in points with individuals reducing forward.
We reported that this might turn into an even bigger drawback after Elon Musk fired Tesla’s complete charging crew final 12 months. This slowed down Tesla’s Supercharger deployment, which was already increasing at a decrease charge than Tesla’s fleet.
A easy resolution could be for Tesla to incorporate a system to queue by means of the Tesla app or in-car system for individuals as they arrive on the station.
This week, Tesla lastly introduced that it’ll pilot a digital queue at some websites subsequent quarter:
Digital queuing pilots beginning in Q2 at choose websites. Purpose is a web buyer expertise enchancment for the ~1% instances of a wait time. Wider rollout this 12 months if suggestions is constructive. We additionally proceed to broaden the community 20%+ year-over-year, carefully monitoring site-level demand.
What did it take for Tesla to maneuver ahead with that lastly? A battle.
The above message from Tesla’s charging crew about launching a queue system was in response to this video of a battle between Tesla house owners at a full Supercharger station that has been going viral:
Whereas that is the primary time I’ve seen a video of such a battle at a Tesla Supercharger, there have been many experiences of such incidents over the previous few years.
It’s good to listen to that Tesla is lastly addressing the difficulty. Now, the query is: will this digital queuing system additionally work with non-Tesla automobiles, which Tesla is onboarding on Tesla’s Supercharger community – contributing to the crowding concern.
